Nov 6th, 2020
3 mins
Two separate and unrelated cases of avian influenza have recently been confirmed in England, one at a broiler breeder rearing farm in Cheshire and the other at a small commercial premises near Deal in Kent.
The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) are taking immediate action and an investigation is underway to understand the origin of the disease.
Following confirmation of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) of the strain H5N8, a 3km Protection Zone and a 10km Surveillance Zone have been put in place around the infected premises near Frodsham, Cheshire.
Following confirmation of low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) of the strain H5N2 a 1km low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) Restricted Zone has been put around the premises near Deal, Kent.
The risk of bird flu occurring in the UK is “medium” in wild birds, and “low” in poultry (provided there’s a good standard of biosecurity). This is because the wild bird migration season is underway, and as winter approaches there will be an increasing risk from bird flu in the UK from migrating wild birds (which might infect domestic poultry).
However, Public Health England (PHE) advises that the risk to public health from the virus is very low and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has emphasised that avian influenza does not pose a food safety risk for UK consumers. Thoroughly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, are safe to eat.
The latest information including important biosecurity advice can be found on GOV.UK here
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